Being a fresh grad, one might want to go into freelance for different reasons. Maybe you want to have some spending power during your ‘funemployment’. Maybe you’re not sure if a desk job really is for you. Or maybe you’re dealing with post-uni existential crisis and you want to explore other fields. Whatever your reason, here are some tips to getting started as a fresh grad.

1. Land Your First Project

Nowadays, freelancing has gotten so rampant that if you ask your friends and family, someone will have something for you. But if you want to be independent about it, there are tons of websites and Facebook groups offering jobs in all shapes and sizes—a simple web search will do. Some will ask for resumes and portfolios. Based on experience, it’s best to tailor resumes based on what the job needs; but don’t leave out too much, because potential clients might find something uniquely useful in you.

2. Know What You’re Doing

Sometimes, it can be tempting to take a job because the payout is great, or because the output will look good on your portfolio. I once took a writing job that entailed a lot of medical research I had no background in. It was a stressful few months of constantly asking myself if I could deliver. Before taking on a project, ask yourself first—am I cut out for this? Make sure you’re equipped with the skills and tools required—and don’t be overconfident!

3. Know Your Worth…

As freelance jobs come in all shapes and sizes, so do their salaries. Before you sign up for a job, you should assess whether doing it will earn you cash or just let you breakeven. Maybe a client will pay you $100, but you’re the type of person who’s only productive in coffee shops. A job that takes a week already sets you back around $25. Is earning $75 worth it? Carefully think about all the expenses you might incur, as well as opportunity costs from taking the job.

4. …But Don’t Be Picky

It’s good to know if a job is worth taking. However, when you’re just starting out and have nothing in your portfolio, you’ll most likely land jobs where you’ll be underpaid. That’s okay. No matter how measly you think the pay is, you’re sure to gain something useful from the job. The more experience and good feedback you get, the higher the value of your work. Eventually, you can negotiate rates with clients for fairer pay.

5. Find Your Niche

Finding what you’re good at is helpful in building your portfolio. It builds not only your expertise in that area but also your credibility. If a client is looking for science fiction writers, you’re likely to be noticeable if your portfolio is mostly comprised of science fiction writing. Finding what you love to do can also enlighten you on what you really want to do with your career.

6. Meet Your Deadlines

You don’t need to be told this, but deadlines are crucial. The first draft’s deadline is just as important as the final deadline. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to submit before the deadline, because of Murphy’s law—anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. What if you overlooked an instruction? You’ll never know when you’ll need that extra day to smooth out bumps in your project. No matter how good your output, clients might have second thoughts about re-hiring you if you can’t deliver on time.

7. Have Fun!

As the saying goes, ‘If you love your job, it doesn’t feel like working’. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to check off tasks and meet deadlines when you enjoy what you’re doing!

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